Maria Baptist – The Solo Works

Maria Baptist is one of the most exciting voices in contemporary jazz piano. In "The Solo Works," she juxtaposes two large-scale cycles: the widely acclaimed piano cycle "Hopes & Fears" and a new multi-movement work that will have its world premiere on this evening. The concert will be recorded live and will serve as the basis for her next solo album. Baptist's music emerges from the interplay of structure and spontaneity. Compositional thinking and improvisational openness intertwine, motivated by themes, thoughtfully structured, and developed in the moment. Her piano playing is highly virtuosic, rhythmically complex, and polyphonically rich – always directed towards musical development. She works with motivic transformation, thematic condensation, and sound as a process of form. The often-drawn comparison to Jarrett or Evans points to the depth and openness of her playing, yet Maria Baptist follows her own aesthetic logic – analytical in approach, clear in form, and characterized by a distinctive sonic signature. The Solo Works is concentrated presence – clear, open, and vibrant.